BoSox offense saves faltering bullpen twice
Starter Derek Lowe improves to 18-2 in opener!
Aug. 16-18
Game 1: Boston 7, Toronto 3. The Sox jump to a 7-0 lead after three and coast home, lifting Derek Lowe to 18-2 on the season. Trot Nixon and Kevin Millar carry the big sticks.
Lowe has now won 13 straight -- lucky, lucky... Frank Catalanotto's 20-game hit streak is snapped...
Game 2: Boston 5, Toronto 3. Alan Embree blows a chance for Pedro Martinez to get a win, but David Ortiz hits a homer in the eighth to lift the Sox to victory... Miquel Batista pitches well against us until he exits... Scott Williamson gets the W with some nice relief work...
Game 3: Boston 7, Toronto 6 (10 innings). This time it's reliever Armando Benitez who takes a win out of a starter's hand. Benitez surrenders a three-run homer to Eric Hinske and Curt Schilling's 5-3 lead evaporates in the seventh.
Fortunately, Boston knows how to win when the pressure's on. Nomar ties it with an RBI single in the eighth. Ellis Burks strokes a two-out, RBI double for the win in the 10th. Closer Keith Foulke gets a win in this one...
This crazy game took 4:23...
Around the league: The AL Central has turned into a joke. Minnesota is leading the division with a 56-63 record (!!), followed by Chicago (55-63) and Kansas City (53-65)… Uggh...